NoveLight ™
"Wow, so many people…!"
"I was wondering what you meant by not needing to take a car, but it’s this crowded several blocks before Times Square…."
"Wow, look at all the police around. This is crazy. If I’m not careful, I’m going to end up lost in America."
The buzz of conversation filled the air.
At around 6 PM in New York, it was packed with people.
To be honest, I had never seen this many people in my life. The last time I encountered such a massive crowd was when I went to hear the New Year’s bells, but this was on an entirely different level.
In fact, even before reaching the buildings adorned with the giant billboards synonymous with Times Square, the scene was chaotic for several blocks. I had heard that people camped out the day before just to secure a good spot for the Ball Drop event on December 31st, and it was common for them to bring several diapers to wait in one place.
When Henry told me this, I thought he was half-joking, but seeing this crowd right before my eyes made me realize the need to be cautious. Fortunately, we could track our location through our phones, so there was no risk of losing our party.
"Wow, Yujin. Look at all the cosplayers. There are so many Marvel characters… I want to go and ask them for a photo."
"If you want to get scammed for a $10 tip, feel free to go."
"Eww…."
The more people there were, the more scammers there were.
In any case, we were almost at our destination. Between West 43rd and 44th Streets, on the left side of 7th Avenue, we were only a few dozen meters away from the multi-purpose building that was plastered with the famous billboards of Times Square. The top floor of that building was where today’s party would be held.
Should I be impressed by the wealth and connections it took to rent a place like this, or should I be thankful? Even so, Henry responded with a cheeky answer saying it was only 20% of the payment for lending Icarus Gear, assuring me there was no need for concern. If there was a problem with the attire, he could lend me something, he claimed.
I was just glad I could reassure them.
The current time was 6:58 PM.
We had just wrapped up the awards ceremony that started at 6 PM. I thought we had plenty of time to arrive since the party started at 7:30 PM, but that was a serious misconception. The traffic police were spread all around, controlling the masses and conducting thorough inspections of personal belongings.
Of course, they approached us and checked our bags. Since we had only a few items, it didn’t take long.
While the police officer finished inspecting our bags, he smiled and added,
"Everyone thinks the fireworks will explode at midnight with confetti, but we actually fire fireworks every hour as a rehearsal. In just one minute, you’ll see quite a spectacular sight."
"Is that so? I’m looking forward to it."
At the same time, solemn music began to play.
Among the thousands of people gathered, cheers erupted sporadically as the countdown began on the famous billboard of the building synonymous with Times Square.
After what felt like the longest 60 seconds in the world, the fireworks went off.
───Boom!
"…Wow. That was a bit underwhelming."
"Well, there are still five hours to go."
Of course, the fireworks were quite small.
The billboard reading "ONLY 5 HOURS TO GO!" indicated the time remaining until midnight. Still, it was certain that the display in five hours would be much more magnificent. Thankfully, we weren’t far from our destination, so when I tried to leave the area, the traffic police asked if we were really going to leave. I heard that once you leave, you would have to reclaim your spot.
After assuring them it was fine, we escaped the bustling crowd. It took us about five minutes to travel 150 meters due to the congestion. While this was somewhat applicable even after entering the building, once we went further inside, we could clearly see that they had separated the elevators and lobby with gates.
The scanner automatically activated, scanning us up and down, and at the same time, the ramp lit up green, and the heavily closed gates opened. Most of the people waiting inside the building stared at us with wide eyes.
Of course, there wasn’t much time to absorb their gazes; the scanner allowed us all in, and the elevator immediately arrived on the first floor.
As soon as everyone boarded, the doors closed, and the elevator rose as if soaring to the sky.
When the elevator stopped, a dimly lit interior hallway appeared, filled with a dark decor. It wasn’t just dim because there were no lights; it seemed to create an intentional sense of mystery and atmosphere. As we ventured deeper inside, staff members who seemed to work on that floor approached us first.
"I’ll take your bags. For those who need them, we will guide you to the dressing room, so please browse as needed and choose an appropriate dress code."
"…I didn’t understand that, Yujin."
"They’ll take care of any unnecessary bags, and for those who didn’t prepare their outfits, they’ll lend them here."
Though I muttered about the automatic translation feature being useless, what could I say?
I had come in wearing the semi-formal suit I had been gifted beforehand—of course, I would send it to the cleaners once I took it off—since I had attended many public or somewhat solemn gatherings in New York, and this outfit had performed admirably each time. So aside from the thick white padding I wore, I didn’t have much to leave behind.
Even so, a couple of people wanted to wear something a bit nicer, so they headed to the dressing room while I secretly scanned the QR code set up below to discreetly send tips for five people.
After waiting for about five minutes, everyone returned to the lobby in better attire.
Then the staff contacted someone somewhere—
"That was quick. How was December 31st in New York?"
"It was packed with people."
"That’s the characteristic of my hometown, the land of opportunity—Big Apple, New York. Come in and take a seat. Being here first is a privilege bestowed upon you all for the restaurant that will operate from next year."
Henry had arrived.
Despite it being just a week since I last saw him, everyone looked at me with puzzled expressions. They seemed quite curious about who he was, or perhaps they half-remembered him.
After having finished his dinner, he left a message for everyone to meet him at the bridge, claiming that his presence would liven up the atmosphere, then disappeared.
As the strange mood settled, Dice spoke up.
"Yujin, who is that person…?"
"The person who will likely become the President of this country around December next year."
At the same time, a barrage of question marks erupted from everyone else, excluding me.
The world was indeed a strange place.
"Ugh, I’m so full…."
"I ate way too much."
"But usually, teppanyaki restaurants don’t serve this much…."
Harmony and Dice patted their bloated stomachs as they sat back in their chairs, breathing heavily.
To be honest, they were right. Even the two chefs responsible for today’s catering claimed it was their first time cooking enough ingredients for a few days’ worth of operation in one day, wearing expressions filled with both challenge and astonishment.
Indeed, today marked the first mass cooking attempt in what was originally a teppanyaki course restaurant. All six of us were served the same portions for appetizers like salads and sashimi, but after the grilled vegetables, things started to get bizarre—two chefs cooked 20 black tiger shrimp on the spot.
Of course, half of them were mine.
The same went for the salmon, scallops, and other grilled fish that followed. Though the restaurant was typically known for its flashy skills and stunning fire shows, today was an exception. The chefs’ abilities were being tested to their limits as they checked the doneness of the food and cooked it properly.
During that time, showing off tools like sauce bottles, oil, knives, and spatulas would have been nothing short of a suicide attempt to them, I guess. Of course, they briefly showed such skills while cooking, but it was significantly shorter than one might expect.
Still, aside from that, the five others—not counting me, including Harmony—envied how much I had received, leading to my request for slightly larger portions, which contributed significantly to their bloated state. It felt like we had significantly departed from the teppanyaki course category, but no one cared much about that.
The steak and fried rice needed no explanation. Those who had come with me were likely having their first experience eating this much meat in their lives. Had we paid for this meal, factoring in tips, taxes, and the exchange rate, we would have probably spent hundreds of thousands of won on just one meal, but as always, it passed without any major issues.
And thus, we returned to the beginning.
"Still, they say there’s always room for dessert, right?"
"Right now, my stomach is pushing against my dessert capacity."
"Pigs."
"Even if you say that…."
Of course, I didn’t gain weight no matter how much I ate.
While they debated how to eat without feeling too stuffed, I casually took one of each dessert laid out in front of me and settled into a spacious glass-walled table to start eating them one by one.
The heating activated, and the circulating warm air contrasted sharply with the cold wind from outside. The glass window was cold to the touch. Below us, hundreds of people were waiting for the New Year. Given that our dining time had significantly lengthened, the current time was nearing 10 PM. Just moments ago, the building next door had erupted with fireworks far more extravagant than those at 7 PM.
As everyone chatted, Henry suddenly sat down in front of me, isolated on the balcony.
I was the one who opened my mouth first, however.
"Outside, there isn’t much happening, right?"
"Who else would it be if not me?"
I silently held up my watch on my left wrist, and he chuckled, giving me a knowing look.
"It seems like you’ve wrapped up your work."
"I could never say that. You have no idea how much my aides are hounding me."
Then, quietly, he continued speaking.
"It seems that by providing Icarus International as a super package, Camp Henry will spread its wings even wider. Is there something you want? If you have anything, I’d consider your opinions positively, depending on the content of my position regarding U.S.-Korea relations."
"What are you talking about on December 31st? In a place with just you and me, isn’t that a little too much of a discussion that could decide the nation’s direction?"
I hurriedly interrupted. If things were going to go well, then what I wanted was for my family and friends to be well-off; anything else, like U.S.-Korea relations, was far from my concern.
So, I said the following.
"Just finish your term without any lame-duck period."
"Haha, you sound just like that polar bear. Don’t worry. There’s nothing here that could catch me out. My nickname is ‘The Prester John of the Democratic Party.’"
"Then I must be the serpent of Eden. This meeting is like the forbidden fruit itself."
"You’ve got quite the sharp tongue."
And then came the follow-up.
"It looks like in a few minutes, the meal for the main team will also be finished. Unless something unexpected happens, I’ll retreat to the back room again. Make sure to enjoy yourselves. Do you need transport back to the hotel?"
"It’s less than a 20-minute walk, so don’t worry. Everyone’s stuffed to the brim, so we’ll need to walk it off…."
"Then that’s settled."
With that, he disappeared.
After a few minutes, however—
"Y-Y-Yujin! Lorentina is here! Lorentina is real!?"
"Oh."
Minah had been caught by the shark.
Thinking about it, Harmony only knew Logan, so it would be her first meeting with Lorentina. Lorentina, rarely wearing a satisfied expression, began to pet Minah’s cheek, and thankfully, Moni didn’t seem to dislike it. It was enjoyable to watch two people of considerable looks being put together.
Of course, that wasn’t the end. When many familiar faces gathered from somewhere, the total on the balcony rose to fourteen, and conversations blossomed everywhere. Naturally, the Korean representatives, along with the staff who had tidied up, were bombarded with questions about whether they had any plans to come to America, so I offered my condolences.
Meanwhile, the pastry chefs got busier. As everyone was taking one treat after another, the situation quickly changed from having just a few people to an entire group. In no time at all, they began to knead dough and crack dozens of eggs. They were people who were receiving proper compensation for their work, so there was no need for me to worry.
Thus, as conversations flourished, time passed 11 o'clock and rushed toward midnight.
The six of us, including the Korean representatives, the pastry chefs, and the chefs responsible for the course meal, crowded around the glass window, watching outside. I would say that today marked the most luxurious December 31st of my life.
Snow was lightly falling, and countless singers were performing. However, that too had ended, and now only a few minutes remained until the New Year.
As I gazed quietly, immersed in a feeling that was hard to describe, Lorentina placed her hand on my shoulder and added,
"This gathering could only happen thanks to you, the youngest."
"…Is that so?"
"Of course. Stand tall and take pride in it. If you’re a member of the main team, that’s how it should be."
I chuckled softly.
And finally, I turned to look around.
With only ten seconds left until the New Year, everyone approached me with smiles on their faces. I didn’t know what they intended to do, so I wore a slightly dazed expression, but as they opened their arms, I instantly realized what they meant.
As each of them embraced me, they began to speak.
"Thank you for all your hard work, youngest."
"When the new year comes, I hope everything goes well. If you have any hardships, let us know, and we’ll help."
"Wishing you only good things from now on."
A variety of colorful wishes to wrap up the year.
Before I knew it, there were only ten seconds left. As the voices of people outside roared through the glass, Harmony and Dice opened their arms wide with smiles.
"You’ve worked hard all this time, Yujin. I look forward to next year as well…."
"Thank you always. Happy New Year."
I replied, smiling at them.
"I’m truly grateful to both of you for following me here."
At that moment, a hug.
And then—
───Boom! Boom!
With beautiful background music, confetti and fireworks bloomed in the black sky of the New Year.
It was the best January 1st of my life.
"…By the way, Yujin. Didn’t you say you were going to broadcast?"
"Oops."
At that moment, I gestured and quickly turned on the stream.
Fortunately, as the fireworks began to burst, all the newly arrived viewers could enjoy January 1st in America. Of course, everyone was too busy teasing me about where my mind had wandered off to. But the fireworks were beautiful, and everyone could enjoy their second New Year.
Thus, my list of nicknames grew to include "fool."
What a thing.
thanksss